Monday, 29 September 2014

Following the sighting of a second generation of White Admirals on the Isle of Wight earlier this month(see blog entry of the 15th September) what better time to show a photo of the butterflies' pupa or chrysalis stage.
The pupa is typically formed upside down suspended under a leaf or the stem of the foodplant and secured by the cremaster.It is a very unusual shape with two prominent horns on the head and a curious protrusion at the back.This stage lasts two to three weeks.

Monday, 22 September 2014

After waiting all season to see my first Clouded Yellow,today on a beautiful sunny afternoon at Wheelers Bay,Bonchurch,there were four flying vigorously along the revetment.All seemed in pristine condition and it can be thought that they have all emerged locally instead of making the trip across the Channel.

Still in good numbers at the Bay are Common Blues and as the Buddleia bushes continue in full flower several Red Admirals too.

Friday, 19 September 2014

This morning has been muggy and thundery with not a lot of sunshine,but at least in my back garden this Small Copper on a geranium flower brightened up the day.As the sun appeared in the afternoon it was joined in the sunshine by a male Common Blue.

Thursday, 18 September 2014

It has really been a pleasure to wander around Walters Copse this week.The excitement of discovering a second generation of White Admirals this year and the activity in the copse this week with the warm and sunny weather has been a joy.

Today in contrast was disappointing as the clouds returned and we had only the occasional sunny interval.

The butterflies did not seem to get going and sightings were low.When the sun did appear just the odd Red Admiral,Comma,and Meadow Brown showed.However the Wall Browns are still in the copse and along the main path two males vied with each other for any sunny spot.

Monday, 15 September 2014

A beautiful calm and warm afternoon at Walters Copse,Newtown, and among the usual late summer butterflies were three White Admirals.This seems to be late for this species and as they all looked 'new', they must have very recently emerged.

Wednesday, 10 September 2014

The drifts of Common Fleabane are still attracting Comma,Red Admiral,Peacock,and Brimstone in Walters Copse,and joining them today.was this Painted Lady.It is the first I have seen for some time but it would have been good to see a Clouded Yellow as I have not managed to tick one off this year so far.

Tuesday, 9 September 2014

The Hummingbird Hawkmoth is a summer visitor to the Isle of Wight.Most sightings are made during August and September although it is possible to see this spectacular moth from as early as April to the end of the year.Yesterday at Wheelers Bay,Bonchurch,I had the treat of seeing at least four individuals nectaring on the ample drifts of Red Valerian along the revetment.

Thursday, 4 September 2014

In my local copse the sun was shining bringing back the warm and summery weather.The butterflies were out in numbers on the drifts of Common Fleabane and in particular many pristine Red Admirals.Several late summer species were also on show including Brimstone and Green-veined White.

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Welcome to my blog and thank you for taking the time to view my images of butterflies of the UK and Greece.I have always been interested in nature and its beauty,and more so since I acquired my first digital camera in 2010. All my photographs have been taken with a Nikon DSLR. a Sigma 105mm macro lens and very occasionally using a Nikon 70-300m lens.Many of them have been at locations on the Isle of Wight. The photographs of butterflies in Greece are a result of family holidays to the Greek Islands and the species I came across near to our accommodation.

UKBMS

Butterfly Conservation Europe

The Adonis Blue

The Adonis Blue is the rarest of the UKs downland butterflies.
It is found on the Isle of Wight and in Southern England.Here on the Island we have south facing downland with short,plant-rich turf which suits the Adonis.
There are two broods a year,from mid-May to the end of June and again from early-August to late September.
The striking sky blue of the male is in contrast to the female which is a basic brown colour,although she has silvery-blue scales near the body and on the hind wings.

The Duke of Burgundy Fritillary

Sadly,this species as well as several others have now been lost to the Isle of Wight

The Large Tortoiseshell

It seems the general view on the status of the Large Tortoiseshell in Britain is that it is now extinct as a breeding butterfly.It is a butterfly of woodland edges and hedgerows that abound in willows,elms,and poplars.These trees are used by the adult to lay its eggs and this single brood appears in July and August.The butterfly then hibernates over the winter in log piles and hollow trees until the next spring.On the Isle of Wight sightings are more often than not made from early March to April.Have these butterflies overwintered on the Island or have they come from the continent where it is common?Any sightings made in July/August pose the same question.Another explanation could be that captive-bred releases are responsible.Only the discovery of eggs and caterpillars will probably answer these questions.

The Glanville Fritillary

This elegant butterfly is mainly confined to the crumbling undercliffs and chalk downs of the Isle of Wight.It is also found on the Channel Islands and at one or two isolated colonies on the British mainland.In Britain the Glanville Fritillary is at the extreme north-western edge of its range.On the continent it is readily found in flowery habitats.Around the southern shores of the Isle of Wight the cliffs constantly erode causing them to slip away and provide perfect conditions for new growths of the butterflies laval host plant,Ribwort Plantain.The eggs are laid to the underside of the leaves of this plant and normally hatch after about three weeks.The resulting caterpillars live together in communal webs spun over the plantain.In the autumn they hibernate and recommence feeding in the spring,eventually dispersing to prepare for pupation.The adult butterfly is on the wing from May to the end of June with the female being larger than the male.They will feed on,amongst other things, Birds-foot Trefoil and Thrift.

Glanville pupa attached to rock

The Wall Brown

On the Isle of Wight in particular,the Wall Brown is a butterfly of field edges,coastal cliffs and dunes,and rabbit-grazed downland.
The male is territorial and spends much of the time patrolling and basking on the ground.
The female,which lacks the males conspicuous dark sex brand across the forewings,is larger.The undersides of both sexes are beautifully cryptic when at rest.
The Wall Brown generally produces two broods a year,the first from late April until late June and the second from mid-July to mid-September.